Growing up in the 70's

There's been a resurgence in films and series set in the 70's and 80's for a while now and while I mostly emjoy the nostalgia, the memories are bitter sweet. Maybe they are for most of us remembering our younger years!

I've been planting up the flower garden in front of the house and found some little pots of 'Pinks' in the local supermarket. As I planted them, the scent reminded me of a strong memory from my youth and the bouquet of pinks I carried at my cousins wedding.

I was 11 and had finally, at last, been asked to be a bridesmaid, something I'd wanted for so long as so many of my friends had shown off photos of their own happy days at school. I was slim with very long blonde hair and I had every intention of being a perfect princess. The day started with a trip to the hairdresser where my hair was to be adorned with a multitude of flowers, I was sooo excited. Once I was sure no scissors were involved I relaxed into the pampering of many women. I opened my eyes and actually cried in the chair. I had a freaking massive beehive studded with a million pink silk daisies. So many of the 'lovely' women including my mum and the bride herself convinced me that I looked great, no, beautiful, and I caved in and stopped trying to rip that shit off my head. I left the salon and walked right into a boy from school who laughed so much that he probably wet himself, serves him right!

I spent the day looking like a 50 year old bar lady (Rovers Return, for the Brits) in a long pink tutu! I went to bed and left the monstrosity in place just to see how long it held and there was so much hairspray on that helmet that I woke up looking like a blonde Marg Simpson!

Sunday night, I pulled out every single one of the 100 pins holding the mess in place and my hair fell in a cascade of curls down my back. Just how I should have looked on that horrid day! I went to school the next day, a fair, tousled Kate Bush and not a single boy laughed!

Isn't it amazing how a simple scent can bring back such a vivid array of memories. All of this went through my head as I planted my garden!

This is the border before the hard work. It's been seriously neglected for a couple of years as the house and then the Potager took priority.

 Empty of weeds and a top dressing of store bought compost it was ready to be planted. Some pale pink and blue perrenials and some wild flowers were added to tone down the bright pink roses. Whilst the colour of the roses is a little too electric for me, their scent is intoxicating, hence the addition of cool blues and soft pinks. The Rosemary and sage at the front are our favourite kitchen herbs so I added some Tarragon and chives for culinary use.

I'll share another picture as soon as it all starts to fill out. I've also planted some mixed wildflowers, but I haven't a clue what's actually grown! I'm hoping the slugs stay off long enough for me to find out!!!

Catching up.

Good morning and happy Sunday dear bloggers.

I've found that blogging from my phone has it's own challenges, especially as my phone loads the photos any which way it wants!!!

A couple of weeks ago our darling Taliesin developed an enormous abscess on his cheek. This picture was after getting back from the vet who drained the abscess. It quickly filled back up and Talie was in a terrible state. He slept beside us for the entire week he was ill!

A few days into the treatment the abscess exploded!!! The white bedding went straight into the washing machine and Talie went straight into the bath. Mainly because the smell of the blood made me feel so sick and it was all over him! He didn't mind too much because he loves water!

We've been doing a lot of decorating inside the house and finally it was in a nice enough state that I could take a day out to practice painting roses. I love all the roses in my garden, so I really felt the need to paint some. It's a rough start, but I'll get there!

In typical Brittany fashion, last night we had a big power cut just as we were starting supper!
My little fireplace looked so sweet with the candles but you know, it's a pretty ugly surround and it keeps all the heat from the fire inside so very soon, we'll be bashing it out! Our new woodburner is on order and I'm so excited to get a new heating system installed. 

Last winter was grim for me with the fibromyalgia as the house was not only cold but incredibly damp. This year, I'm already knitting lots of woolies to help with outside chores and inside should be lovely and cosy with our fire and back boiler to run the central heating!

I had a lot to say about the world and the state of everything we've been through globally, but right now, my brain is so weary of dealing with what I'm reading on social media. I think that will be another post.

Stay safe friends.x